Like in my dream Photo Effect

In this tutuorial I will show you several methods of marking out the objects, there transforming and also we’ll learn to create the effect of printed picture on a sheet of paper and apply different textures.

But first we need to open a picture of the sky in a new window: File – Open (ctrl+o)

Copy this layer: Layer – Duplicate Layer (ctrl+j), then turn the picture around in a way that its darkest part to be underneath: Edit – Transform – Flip Vertical. Move off the previous layer by clicking the Delete Layer button on the Layers panel. Insert now on a new layer a picture of a book. Open it in a new window (ctrl+o), mark out its contours with Polygonal Lasso Tool and make a copy of it: Edit – Copy (ctrl+c). Insert the copy on a new layer and get back to the processed picture: Edit – Paste (ctrl+v).

Correct the book’s sizes and the perspective level by using next options: Edit – Free Transform (ctrl+t) and Edit – Transform – Distort.

Now we should correct the book’s color and its brightness, applying Image – Adjustments – Curves (ctrl+m).

Applying the same selection, it’s possible to correct the layer containing the sky. Make it look darker and less in contrast, just to be situated on the second plan. Change also a little the color of the sky.

That is what we’ve got:

Insert now the pictures of two butterflies portrayed on different angles (the yellow one I’ve decided to move off). Each one must be situated on different layers. They were copied from different pictures. Remember, if the difference between the background and the object which must be marked out is very clear and in contrast, then we can use for the marking action the next instruments: Magic Wand Tool or Magnetic Lasso Tool.

The butterflies must be placed on the book that we have already, using this selections: Edit – Free Transform (ctrl+t) and Edit – Transform – Distort.

Copy the layer containing the book now and blur out the copy making use of a special filter: Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur.

Make the necessary corrections now including the brightness and the contrast of the layers with butterflies, making use of Image – Adjustments – Levels (ctrl+l). Merge down both these layers: Layer – Merge Down (ctrl+e).

We have now to create a mask of the butterflies’ layers. It’s possible to make it with Layer – Add Layer Mask – Reveal all. Apply after that the Gradient Tool to create the effect of the butterflies’ coming out from the book’s pages, hiding partially their edges.

Insert now on a new layer the picture of a third butterfly, the same with those two, but it’s necessary for the third one to be pictured from above.

We’ll make a printed picture out of this butterfly. First insert the butterfly on a book’s page (Free Transform, Distort):

Then decolorize it and change the layer’s type on Soft Light.

Correct the colors after that, selecting the option: Image – Adjustments – Curves (ctrl+m). Then use the Levels option (ctrl+l) to make corrections on the brightness and on the contrast. Minimize the layer’s Opacity also till 85%.

Choose now the Text Tool and write several incomprehensible words, using an old type (ex. Aspect Ligatures). Place the words above the butterfly’s image and do the same manipulations we did with the previous layer. But the layer’s Opacity this time should be of 100%.

Make one more copy now of the basic book’s layer. Place the copy above the sky’s layer and blur it out with next option: Filter – Blur – Motion Blur.

Transform now the layer with Free Transform (ctrl+t) and Distort options. We have also to change the layer’s type on Color Dodge.

Insert now on a new layer, above all the previous layers, a texture representing the crumpled paper.

Change the layer’s type on Overlay and minimize the Opacity till 55%.

Merge down all the layers after that: Layer – Merge Visible (shift+ctrl+e). But we have also to insert the picture into a frame. It’s possible to do that with the usual instruments: Crop Tool and Rectangular Tool.

Use the Gradient Tool for the frame’s edges. Then apply the Linear Gradient and the Radial Gradient for the corners. If we want the gradient to lie down on a straight line, we have to hold the shift button.